Jodie Hamby, a former client and now employee at Future Living Hertford shares her story of what inspires her to work for us and how she hopes her voice can help other survivors of domestic abuse. Jodie was received an award this year (pictured above) from Hertfordshire Constabulary for her involvement in the Domestic Abuse Lived Experience training.
Why I Share My Lived Experience In Training Hertfordshire Police Officers
Since January 2025, I’ve had the privilege of co-facilitating training for Hertfordshire’s front line police officers and force control room staff twice a week, where I speak from my lived experience of domestic abuse. Our aim, to educate officers on what victims truly want and need, and we work to enhance their knowledge and understanding of domestic abuse.
Why I Do This
The simple answer is – because it matters.
I’ve had both good and bad experiences with the police over the past 15 years. The bad ones stayed with me, of course, but so did the good ones – the moments when an officer truly listened, believed me, or took action that made me feel safe. It’s important for officers to hear both sides: not just where things could have been done better, but also what made a positive difference and why. That balance gives them the tools to replicate good practice and avoid repeating mistakes.
I do this because change doesn’t happen by staying silent. Without people like me standing up and speaking out, the progress we’ve made could stop. I want officers to understand that their response isn’t just about reacting after harm has been done – it’s about prevention, protecting and listening to victims before a situation escalates.
The Bigger Picture
Domestic abuse will sadly always exist, but how society responds to it can change. My motivation is deeply personal: my daughter. I can’t remove domestic abuse from the world, but I can play a part in ensuring that when she grows up, there’s a stronger safety net in place. If she – or anyone else – ever needs support, she won’t have to face it alone like I once did.
Why Lived Experience Matters
Books, policies and PowerPoint can only teach us so much. Hearing directly from survivors like me brings the reality of domestic abuse into focus. It makes the training human, real and impossible to ignore. Officers leave our sessions with not just knowledge, but empathy and understanding. That shift in perspective can transform the way they respond to the next call, the next victim, the next life in crisis.
Looking Forward
I’ll continue this work for the rest of the year and hopefully beyond, because I know it’s making a difference.
This month I was honoured to receive a commendation from Hertfordshire’s Chief of Police for my contribution. But the real reward is knowing that officers leave our sessions seeing things differently. Every time an officer tells me “I’ll think differently next time”, – that difference could change someone’s life – something I am extremely proud of, not just for myself, but because it shows how valuable lived experience is in shaping real change.
